Last week, the FBI and HSI arrested local Black liberation movement leaders Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, Monique Cullars Doty, William Kelly, and Trahern Crews following a disruption of a sermon by pastor and ICE commander David Easterwood. These five individuals should be commended for their bravery and commitment to justice, not prosecuted. They were exercising their right to protest by standing up to say that ICE agents and collaborators do not belong in a place of worship or in our communities.
On Thursday, January 29th, two journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were arrested for the second time for covering the same disruption. The Trump Administration continues to retaliate against the press for simply reporting on the situation in Minnesota.
All 7 individuals have been charged or are being threatened with charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. FACE prohibits the threat of or actual physical force against people seeking reproductive healthcare services or practicing their religion. The Act is meant to protect providers and patients from the very real threat of anti-abortion violence. We live in a country where abortion clinics have been bombed, where providers have been assassinated, and where people seeking reproductive healthcare are routinely harassed, intimidated, and attacked by so-called “pro-life” forces.
As an organization fighting to protect reproductive rights, we in MNAAC are outraged that federal prosecutors would weaponize FACE in this way. To twist and manipulate one of the few federal laws that keeps patients and providers safe in an effort to attack clearly non-violent protestors demanding justice in the face of ICE occupation is beyond shameful. Our movement will not stand for it.
Just last year, Trump’s justice department announced that, specifically in cases of attacks on abortion clinics, they would only enforce FACE in “extraordinary circumstances.” Meanwhile, Trump has pardoned numerous defendants charged under FACE for blocking clinic doors and preventing people from receiving essential and time-sensitive healthcare. This administration has declared open season on our providers, patients, and clinics, only to turn around and arrest seven individuals who have harmed no one. Their “crime” was daring to stand up and use their voices to say what so many of us have been saying for months now – ICE is terrorizing our communities, and we want them out!
Time and time again, the Trump administration has made it clear that they will bend and break the law to serve their racist and reactionary agenda. This week 16 community members were arrested for “assaulting” federal officers. The claims against them, however, include allegedly throwing an egg and or swatting away an officer’s hand. Equally shameful, Isavela Lopez still faces felony charges from June when she was singled out, kidnapped, and brutalized by the FBI for protesting ICE. Pam Bondi is trying to make an example out of these courageous people to instill complacency in our communities. But this has not worked and it will not work!
MNAAC stands with all those arrested for resisting the occupation of Minnesota by ICE. As leaders in the movement for Black lives, Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, Monique Cullars Doty, William Kelly, and Trahern Crews have always stood with justice as they steered our communities through so much hardship. Our journalists and community members are being targeted for exercising their right to protest violence in our communities. They are being targeted because they are powerful and they will not back down!
We join in the call for any investigation and charges against these community members to be dropped! No misuse of the FACE act! No harassment of journalists, protestors, and community leaders! Drop all charges now!
No justice, no peace! ICE off our streets!